Crime & Safety
Spring Valley Man Convicted in Christmas Eve Rape-Murder
In 2013, Juan Perez-Coira killed Deborah Burns.

The Spring Valley man who killed Deborah Burns in 2013 has been found guilty on four felony counts.
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said Juan Perez-Coira, 44, was convicted after a bench trial on:
• Two counts of Murder in the Second Degree, class “A” Felonies
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• One count of Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree , a class “C” Felony
• One count of Attempted Rape in the First Degree, a class “C” Felony
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“The defendant took the life of an innocent woman during a vicious sexual assault,” Zugibe said. “I can only hope that the victim’s family finds some measure of comfort and solace knowing her attacker will be sentenced to at least 15 years as punishment for his savagery.”
Perez-Coira attempted to commit rape and sodomy, and in the course of it caused Burn’s death, Zugibe said.
He and Burns, 55, were acquaintances and had spent the evening together, he said. She died as the result of internal bleeding.
Perez-Coira remains held at the Rockland County Jail. He faces a maximum of 25 years to life in state prison when he is sentenced on March 3, 2015.
Executive Assistant District Attorney Dominic Crispino and Senior Assistant District Attorney Tanya A. Gayle are prosecuting the case.
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